Effect of Different Sulphate Types and Concentrations on Compressive Strength of Periwinkle Shell Ash Blended Cement Concrete

The study investigated the compressive strength performance of periwinkle shell ash (PSA) blended cement concrete exposed to sulphate environments. Periwinkle shells were obtained from Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria; and calcined in a furnace to temperature of 8000C at zero soaking time. Concrete mix of design characteristic strength of 25N/mm2 was adopted as the control. The cement component replaced with PSA at five levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% were cast, and on hardened exposed to varying concentration of sulphates of magnesium, sodium and calcium at four levels of 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% each for three exposure periods of 62, 92 and 152 days after complete immersion in water for 28 days. Using three replicates in all the tests, a total of 630 cubical (150mm) specimens were cast and tested. The results revealed that compressive strength increased with increase in curing age but decreased as the PSA contents increased. The design compressive strength was attained with 10% PSA content at the age of 28 days. The compressive strength reduction in sulphate solutions was noted to increase significantly (p = 0.005, R2 = 0.995) with increase exposure period and concentration, with the most severe caused by magnesium sulphate and the least by calcium sulphate. The least reduction in compressive strength was experienced with 10% PSA blended cement concrete. Based on the test results the study concluded that 10% PSA content is adequate as supplementary cementitious material for structural concrete to be placed in an aggressive sulphate environment

Performance of Periwinkle Shell Ash Blended Cement Concrete Exposed to Magnesium Sulphate

The study examined the compressive strength of periwinkle shell ash (PSA) blended cement concrete in magnesium sulphate medium. Specimens were prepared from designed characteristics strength of 25 MPa. The cement replacement with PSA ranged between 0 and 40% by volume. A total of 180 cube specimens were cast and cured in water. At 28 days curing, 45 specimens each were transferred into magnesium sulphate of 1%, 3%, and 5% solution, while others were continuously cured in water and tested at 62, 92, and 152 days. The results revealed a higher loss in compressive strength with the control mix, and that it increases with increased in MgSO4 concentration and exposure period, whereas, the attack on the PSA blended cement concrete was less and the least value recorded by 10% PSA content. Therefore, the study concluded that the optimum percentage replacement of cement with 10% PSA could mitigate magnesium sulphate attack

The Social Role of the Church : Alienation or Mediation?

This research has a three-fold purpose: first, to assess the presence, or lack thereof, of alienation in a sample from the rural Farm population; second, to assess the role of the church in helping reduce feelings of alienation; and third, to determine the extent to which church membership and participation enhances personal empowerment and transformative action. The following questions are addressed in the study: 1. Is there evidence of alienation in this rural farm population? 2. If so, who are alienated? 3. Is alienation associated with church membership? 4. Is church membership associated with transformative action? 5. How are alienation and transformative action related? Berger and Neuhaus\u27 work on mediating institutions serves as the abstract theoretical framework of the research. Seeman\u27s conceptualization of alienation as powerlessness, meaninglessness, social isolation, self-estrangement, and normlessness is applied and incorporated into this framework. Alienation and church membership are independently examined to determine the relationship of each to transformative action. The data for the study are collected through intensive interview and participant observation. A methodological mix - statistical and qualitative - is used in analyzing the data. The major findings are as follows: Some alienation is observed among rural farm population. Farmers with church membership give less evidence of alienation than farmers with no church membership. Farmers with church membership tend to participate less in community organizations and activities than farmers with no church membership. Farmers whose economic well-being is stable tend to be less involved in community organizations than farmers whose economic well-being is either unstable or critical. Farmers with church membership are more likely to give positive spontaneous evidence of transformative action than farmers with no church membership. Regardless of church membership, farmers who discuss farm issues more frequently with their spouses are seen as less likely to be alienated than farmers who discuss less frequently. Finally, the chances for quarreling increase as farmer economic well-being decreases

The oral hygiene status of institution dwelling orphans in Benin City, Nigeria

Introduction: Orphans like other vulnerable children face a number of challenges including limited or no access to basic health care including oral health care, which is one of their unmet health care needs. Neglected oral health care is associated with the development and progression of periodontal diseases among others.Objective: To determine the oral hygiene status of institution dwelling orphans.Materials and Methods: Thirty eight orphans from four orphanages in Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria were clinically examined and their oral hygiene status determined using the simplified oral hygiene index of Greene and Vermillion (OHI-S).Results: Seventy-three percent of the orphans were found to have fair oral hygiene comprising mostly of those aged 6-13 years. More females were in this category while more males presented with poor oral hygiene status.Conclusion: More orphans presented with fair oral hygiene that indicated inadequate oral care. There was poor oral health education and limited access to services. There is need for these to be improved as a solution to poor oral health status of these vulnerable children.Key words: Institution dwelling, oral hygiene, orphans, statu

Marketing of Information and Library Services in Nigerian University Libraries: The Way Forward

University libraries in Nigeria exist to support teaching, learning and research needs of their parent institutions. This is done through the provision of up –to-date information resources to their clientele –students, teaching and   non-teaching staff. This mission can be best accomplished through effective marketing of information and library services to their respective users. This paper examines   marketing of information and library services in Nigerian university libraries; the current situation and the way forward.  Marketing of information and library services is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others.  The use of Marketing mix (the 7p’s) and other marketing strategies such as exhibition, segmentation and use of Internet were seen as means which could be used to market information and library services to various users in Nigerian University Libraries. Keywords: Marketing, users’ satisfaction, library services, information, university libraries, Nigeria

Effect of Batching Methods on the fresh and hardened properties of Concrete

This paper investigated the effect of batching by mass and volume on concrete’s compressive strength and workability. Influence of mix proportion at five levels and various water-cement ratios were also studied. All samples were cured by complete immersion in water and tested up to 28 days. The results indicated higher workabilities for concrete batched by mass than concrete batched by volume at all w/c ratios and mix proportions investigated. The workability increased with increase in w/c ratios in both methods. The compressive strength results showed that for rich structural mixes (1:1:2 and 1:1.5:3), concrete batched by mass had 20 % and 6 % strength increases respectively over the concrete batched by volume. Ordinary structural mix (1:2:4) had 14 % increase while non-structural mixes (1:3:6 and 1:4:8) had 8 % and 6 % increases respectively. In all cases, concrete batched by mass had better fresh and hardened properties of concrete

Effect of Thiamin Status on the Metabolism of Linamarin in Rats

The effect of graded levels of thiamin on the metabolism of linamarin was investigated in rats. It was observed that on a diet deficient in thiamin, a large amount of linamarin was recovered unchanged in the urine, together with significantly more thiocyanate (SCN–) relative to the control. The least amount of thiocyanate (p < 0.05 relative to control) was found in animals receiving the highest amount (twice daily requirement) of thiamin in the diet; but the amount of unmetabolized linamarin was similar to the control. It is suggested that thiamin deficiency may be implicated in the aetiology of tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) through the thiocyanate overload in people eating large amounts of cassava and cassava derivatives which contain linamari

Splenotoxic Potentials of Chloroquine, Fansidar, Cotecxin and Amalar

The Histologic studies on the spleen was carried out with Chloroquine, Fansidar, Cotecxin and Amalar to observe any pathologic effect(s) on the tissue on comparative basis. The study revealed some degenerated white pulps and wider interstitial spaces with chloroquine drug not observed in control samples. Also animals with fansidar administration showed clumping of periateriolar lymphoid cells in the white pulp not shown in the control group without any drug. In the Amalar group the spleen showed sinuisoidal dilation in the red pulp with macrophages scattered around it but not in the form of activation. For cotecxin drug there was the degeneration of periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths with residue of the infiltrated cells in the arterioles. It is concluded that chloroquine, fansidar, cotecxin may induce jaundice and splenic disorders. Keywords: splenomegaly, splenic rupture, anti-malaria drugs

Assessment of Intracellular and Extracellular Fluids (Icf, Ecf) Compartments with Antimal, Chloroquine, Coartem, Fansidar and Malareich

Quantitative assay with spectrophotometer was used in the determination of plasma sodium, potassium and chloride concentration in the administration of antimal, chloroquine, coartem, fansidar and malareich antimalaria drugs. In the antimal group there was no significant difference in the sodium, potassium and chloride concentration in the plasma when compared with control (P&gt;0.05). Also in the chloroquine group, the sodium and chloride concentrations were not significantly different from the control (P&gt;0.05). However, there was low concentration of potassium which was significant when compared with control (P&lt;0.05). In the Fansidar administration there was no significant difference in sodium, potassium and chloride concentration when compared with control, (P&gt;0.05). Also in the malareich group, the sodium and chloride concentrations showed no significant difference with the control (P&gt;0.05). But there was significant difference in potassium concentration when compared with control (P&lt;0.05). The study observed that chloroquine and malareich therapy affect extracellular fluid compartment of the body and induced hypokalaemia which may result in deficit cell membrane potential and the related general body muscle weakness. Keyword: Hypokalaemia, antimalarials, ICF, ECF

Medication Adherence and Health Status in HIV Positive Patients in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Purpose: To assess medication adherence and health status in ambulatory HIV positive patients in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.Methods: The 7-item Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS-7) was used to assess medication adherence among 500 HIV positive patients in three secondary health facilities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A single-item question (measuring self-rated health) and depression (CESD-R) questionnaire were also used to evaluate the patients. Recent CD4 count and viral load were obtained from the patients’ folders. The association between independent and dependent variables was evaluated using logistic regression analysis.Results: Only 56 (11.7%) respondents reported 100% adherence to their medications; 190 (39.7%) rated their health as being ‘very good’ and 51 (10.7%) reported being depressed. Respondents who were single were more likely to be nonadherent (aOR = 2.665, 95% CI = 1.336 - 5.318; p = 0.005), and the nonadherent patients were more likely to have lower CD4 cell counts (aOR = 0.998, CI = 0.996 – 0.999; p = 0.007). Those who rated their health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ were more likely to be nonadherent (aOR= 11.380, CI = 1.527 – 84.785; p=0.018) and depressed (aOR = 2.748, CI = 1.469 – 5.141; p = 0.002). Patients who were unemployed were more likely to rate their health as fair/poor (aOR = 1.890, CI = 1.197 – 2.985; p=0.006).Conclusion: This work has shown that even though most of the HIV positive patients perceive their health as being very good, their adherence to medications was poor which is directly related to their unemployment status. Intervention to improve adherence directed at socio-economic status of the individual patient is recommended. Keywords: Medication adherence; Depression; Self-rated health; Nigeri